2011 Lexus LFA High-Performance Sports Coupe

To most of us, the nameplate “Lexus” conjures up images of silky-smooth, beautifully-built, larger sedans of considerable refinement and outstanding quality. Lexus, though, wants us to consider its cars as more than just upscale Toyotas, built to pamper driver and passengers with unmatched efficiency. It’s true that Lexus has its attractive SC430 convertible hardtop sports model, but even its maker would hardly rate this as a product to bring worried frowns to the folks over at Porsche. And the IS F is one of the best small performance saloons in the world and a match for equivalent Mercedes AMGs, Audi S models and BMW M-cars, but it’s not widely known and hasn’t been an image-changer for Lexus. In order to change such public perception dramatically, Lexus has set out to sprint right to the top of the most exotic sports class of all by revealing the amazing 2011 LFA supercar, which should settle the matter once and for all.

The LFA is quite simply, the most “non Lexus-like” product ever to emerge from this manufacturer and it promises to give even the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of this world something to think about. A stunning-looking coupe, the LFA is packed with all kinds of fascinating technology and Lexus has spared nothing to place this car squarely at the upper end of the supercar ranks. It comes with a supercar price too at around $375,000 and since only 500 will be sold worldwide, serious buyers should get their orders in as soon as they can because some reports say they’re sold out already. The LFA fits in well with rivals in this class with its dramatic styling, giant wheels and huge air ducts seemingly all over the bodywork. It’s an exceptionally handsome car, though picky students of automotive design might point to the ultra-large rear lights as being a little overdone. It looks the part, though, and is bound to be a head-turner for many years to come – not least because you’re never going to see too many of these around.

The body is fabricated from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and is sculpted for maximum aerodynamic efficiency. According to Lexus, using the composite material saves 100 kg when compared to aluminum. The composite is also very rigid and contributes towards impressive handling capability. To use this space age material, Lexus developed a special technique for bonding the CFRP to metal components.

Power is provided by an engine that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before from Lexus – a V-10 displacing 4.8-litres and developing 560-horsepower. Perhaps this engine configuration will show up on other Lexus products, but there’s no word on that. It seems unlikely that a manufacturer like Lexus would develop a new engine solely for a car with a production run of 500 and it’s an intriguing thought that the power unit could end up in a “super sedan” at some stage. The engine is located up front and drives the rear wheels in traditional fashion. The 6-speed transmission can be operated manually using the now common steering wheel paddles or it can be left in automatic mode for city driving. The car will top 60 mph in less than four seconds and those brave enough can take it beyond 200 mph.

The engine and its transaxle gearbox, with various other related components, is positioned within the LFAs wheelbase to achieve almost 50/50 weight distribution – usually a major target for sports car designers. What this means is that the car is very well balanced and stable and should be “forgiving” in tight situations like mountain roads – even with fairly inexperienced drivers. Further help comes from the fact that the driver is positioned close to the LFA’s centre of gravity midway between the front and rear axles. Lexus believes that this helps enhance what engineers call “car-to-driver feedback,” making the LFA fun to drive and predictable in its handling.

Keeping all that LFA power under control are racetrack-sized carbon ceramic disc brakes with serious stopping power. These carbon ceramic discs, once noisy and difficult to modulate, have improved a great deal in recent times and are becoming almost the “norm” in the luxury sports segment – even on far less expensive sports cars than the LFA.

The cockpit is an absolute feast of advanced technology and spirited design work. The steering wheel is a wonderful combination of carbon fibre and fine leather and the central console seems to glide gracefully out of the dash area. The seats hug the hips and shoulders, so even on a race track, this is a car that will grasp driver and passenger firmly in place however hard it’s cornered. Like all

Lexus products, the fit and finish is beyond reproach and the LFA doesn’t seem to have been put together with parts from other Lexus vehicles.

The main challenge facing Lexus is whether buyers will spend this much cash on a nameplate that has no history of high-performance, exotic, sports car production. After all, the LFA is going after rivals that have decades of experience building competition and production cars. That said, they don’t have to sell that many and more than likely, there are enthusiasts all over the world ready and waiting to buy a performance car with this kind of exclusivity and the 500 examples will soon be snapped up. At the very worst, the LFA will be a “halo car,” a flagship which will attract saloon and SUV buyers to Lexus showrooms and convince them that the Japanese manufacturer can excel at any kind of vehicle if it chooses to do so. It would be great to think, though, that the LFA is the first of many generations of Lexus luxury sports models and that cars like this will form a permanent element in the maker’s product lineup.

Already there is talk of other versions of the LFA besides the coupe and a roadster has been shown as a concept vehicle. Also, LFA competition cars have been built and several have raced quite successfully, including an entry in the 24-Hours of Nurburgring. It’s a bold move by Lexus, which must be confident that the worldwide recession has ended and money is starting to flow in the luxury segment, but it will almost certainly pay off. For a car manufacturer that’s barely 20 years old, simply to come up with a product like the LFA is an achievement in itself.

Subscribe via email

Endorsements

“I have worked with Alan in both his current position and in previous positions. His knowledge of the automotive aftermarket is not only broad, but deep as well. He also has demonstrated excellent follow up skills on projects that we have worked together on always staying on top of action items that need completed. My work with him has always been very professional and positive. Alan has the ability to multi-task several projects at a time and move them forward. He is an asset to any team.”

“My experience with Alan has been as a contributor to a Corvette article in Corvette Fever magazine. The article was about my collection of Corvettes accumulated over my career as a plant manager of the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green Kentucky. Alan's quality of work is outstanding and well respected in the Corvette hobby. His word is golden. If he tells you something you can believe it will be accurate and to the point.”

"Alan is a tremendous asset to any corporation. He has numerous contacts and is well respected in the industry. I would at any time have him part of my team!"

Jeff Nowicki, President, Specter Werkes/Sports Inc.

“Alan was my Editor for more than five years at Corvette Fever magazine. Under his direction, the magazine was redesigned and re-juvenated, and became more authoritive and intelligent - reflecting his own professional attitude. Alan has an extraordinary depth of knowledge on the technical aspects of American motor vehicles, and a rare ability to communicate this too.”

“Alan is very personable and is without a doubt an expert within the car hobby. He's a pleasure to work with and has always been very creative.”

Lance Miller, Partner at Carlisle Events

“Alan is very,very knowledgeable within the car hobby. I had the pleasure to work with him a year and a half ago when we were doing a cover photo shoot with my Corvette. He was very easy to work with and seemed to always have the audience in mind when shooting/capturing the car. Alan is very articulate and has the perfect mindset for an editor - He is also well known within the industry for his work with unique automotive knowledge. I would definitely recommend his talents.”

Tracey Richardson, President, Teaching Lean Inc.

“I've worked with Alan on a number of different projects and they have all been very positive experiences. I particularly enjoyed the writer/editor relationship that developed during the years he was editor of Corvette Fever magazine. He has vision, dedication and follows through on his commitments.”

“Alan provided excellent coverage of National Corvette Museum events, activities and special displays with knowledgable writing and supervision of articles that showed a thorough knowledge in a manner that was interesting to the reader.”

Roc Linkov, Events Manager, National Corvette Museum

“I've known Alan for more than a decade. He has an amazing knowledge of automotive history, and a keen eye for detail. The work he did for me as editor of two car collector magazines was always well received by the readers. His reference guides are indispensable for hobbyists and professionals working to restore classic cars.”

Matthew Wiseman, President at Potato Communications

“I first became acquainted with Alan during his tenure as Editor at Corvette Fever magazine. During this time Alan often came to me for additional information or to verify some data in regards to the Corvette Grand Sport, showing he is a stickler for details and a high level of accuracy. He has a wonderful writing style, professional yet instantly friendly, and these traits have come to make him and his work very well respected in the Corvette world.”

John (Hutch) Hutchinson, Owner/Manager, Corvette Grand Sport Registry

“Alan is an classic car industry expert with solid auto industry management experience, he was an excellent manager for us at Autocomm. His technical ability is obvious with the series of books he has written on the auto industry. He has a great grasp of the business angles and relationships and I look forward to working with Alan in current and future endeavors.”

“Have worked with Alan in a variety of ways and capacities over 15 years. Super capable journalist, photographer, and car guy. In addition to our professional interactions, I keep a set of his Chevrolet by the Numbers books within an arms reach as they are an incredible resource. Always a pleasure to work with.”

Tom Christmann, Marketing Manager, Mecum Auctions

“Alan is very knowledgable in Vette products as well as an accomplisted editor/ writer. He has been in the business for many years and has the experience to understand how products work”